Police deny not enforcing rules
GOLD Coast water police are dishing out about three fines a day to waterways users but say its more a lack of knowledge than “larrikin” rule breakers.
But the city’s top water cop is denying his team ignore boaties breaching basic safety etiquette like sticking to the right side of channels.
Veteran local skippers are bemoaning behaviour by boaties and jetski users, saying the number of craft on the water is soaring as fast as the standard of behaviour and seamanship is declining.
They have warned the city to expect increases in fatalities and injuries after the Bulletin last week revealed a spike in marine incidents, mainly collisions.
Maritime Safety Queensland figures show 103 incidents in 2016, almost double the 54 in 2015.
But Gold Coast Waterways Police acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said for the first four months of 2017, his team issued 398 infringement fines, tracking at the normal rate.
Acting Sen-Sgt Gray said the main area of congestion was the area of the Seaway to Sea World.
“We have a lot of boats in a small area. But we haven’t had marine incidents in that area,” he said, clarifying by incident he meant a collision.
“It’s fairly good considering the amount of boats that go through,” acting Sen-Sgt Gray said.
“It might be a lack of knowledge rather than larrikinism. That’s what we’ve found and why we do so much education, especially the ones who drive at us.
“We say ‘Do you realise you were in a head-on situation?’”
Veteran Gold Coast skipper Tony Morris, who owns
All Coast Charters and Boats, has decried boatie behaviour as the worst he’s seen in three decades — and accuses police of turning a blind eye.
“The rule is keep as near as practical to the right-hand side of the channel. They come up the wrong way and I have seen the police boat give way to them and not do anything about it.”
Mr Morris said police should be pulling over anyone showing a lack of basic seamanship and warning them plus advise them of the rules.
“Go out any Sunday in a boat and drive up the channel and see the people coming towards you on the right side – it defies logic,” he said.
But acting Sen-Sgt Gray said: “I 100 per cent don’t agree that we don’t take action and just drive past.
“Anyone who drives toward us, we pull over unless we are going to a job or are on a search and rescue, that takes priority.
“I guarantee you my guys will pull over anyone who potentially could have caused a collision with our vessel,” acting Sen-Sgt Gray said, adding they hand out waterways education booklets daily.
He said while it was not an offence to be on the wrong side of the channel, it was still something police warned boaties about.